_Why_ wouldn't you tell me how
you first got to know her, and so on?"
"Before I answer, I want to know this: have you found out why I
wouldn't?"
"Yes, I have--that is, I suppose I have--and from her own lips,
too! You knew her when she lived near the Strand there, eh?"
"I did."
"Well now, understand, my boy. I don't want to hear anything
disagreeable; in fact, I won't listen to anything disagreeable;--
all I want to know is, whether I may safely tell you what she has
told me. If you don't know it already, there's no need to talk of
it."
"I understand, and I don't think you can tell me anything I'm not
well aware of."
"Sure, then, I will tell you, and if there's another girl as brave
and honest as Sally in all this worruld, I'll be obliged if you'll
make me acquainted with her! Well, you know she has a Saturday
afternoon off every month. It hasn't been a very cheerful day, but it
couldn't be missed; and, as it was too rainy to walk about, I
couldn't think of any better place to go to than the British Museum.
Of course I wanted to find a quiet corner, but there were people
about everywhere, and the best we could manage was in the
mummy-room. We looked at all the mummies, and I told her all I knew
about them, and I kept thinking to myself: Now, how can I work round
to it? I've tried so often, you know, and she's always escaped me,
somehow, and I couldn't help thinking it was because I hadn't gone
about it in the proper way.
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